SAVE - Peer Outreach Coordinator

Job Description

The Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts primary support and advocate for Veterans and their families. The mission of EOVS is to advocate on behalf of all the Commonwealth's veterans.

EOVS is actively searching for a Peer Outreach Coordinator to join the SAVE team! SAVE, Statewide Advocacy for Veterans Empowerment, is a statewide, peer-to-peer mobile outreach team specializing in outreach and veteran case management. SAVE team members operate regionally throughout the state and help veterans navigate any issues they may be facing.

As a Peer Outreach Coordinator, you will perform field-based client focused peer engagement and outreach with service members, veterans, and their families to support suicide prevention, housing system navigation support, recovery, and connection to appropriate services. This role conducts predictable and consistent face-to-face meetings with veterans in community settings to assess immediate needs, provide peer support, and facilitate linkage to federal, state, municipal, and community-based resources. This position is non-clinical and operates within established Executive Office of Veterans Services policies, procedures, and scope of practice, with strict adherence to HIPAA, confidentiality, and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) protections.

Duties & Responsibilities:

As it relates to military service members, veterans and their families:

• Administers an in-depth intake which captures the following information: physical ability, service information, contact information, exposure to trauma, substance use history, suicidal ideology, next of kin, mental health history and other pertinent information, in accordance with EOVS protocols and confidentiality requirements.
• Assists veterans in identifying immediate needs and short-term goals and documents action steps consistent with peer support and outreach guidelines.
• Refers veterans to service providers who can help them attain goals identified from the intake assessment.
• Facilitates warm handoffs and connections to community-based service providers, including coordination of appointments and, when appropriate and approved, accompaniment to meetings to support engagement and continuity of care (in accordance with EOVS policy and safety protocols).
• Participates in outreach events and informational activities to promote awareness of EOVS services.
• Represents the SAVE Team at Continuum of Care, various task force, interagency or intra-department meetings, as assigned and relevant to outreach coordination.
• Collects, documents, and contributes to programmatic data related to outreach activities, service utilization, and veteran needs to support quality improvement, reporting requirements, and program evaluation efforts in accordance with EOVS standards.
• Represents the SAVE Team in public forums focused on veteran outreach and engagement, as assigned.
• Identifies systemic barriers impacting veterans' access to services and works collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to reduce obstacles, improve service coordination, and promote equitable access to care and resources.
• Supports veterans in understanding available services and assists with navigation and communication with service providers, referring legal, clinical, or benefits determinations to appropriate professionals.
• Attends case management meetings and relevant training sessions, seminars, conferences and professional development courses as required to support coordination of services, to maintain and improve current knowledge of issues in the veterans' community.
• Forms working relationships with other service providers (appropriate to level of responsibility) and acts as the liaison between veterans and service providers when veteran is unable by reason of disability or deficit.
• Resolves issues related to the obtainment of objectives as outlined in the client directed goals.

• Ability to follow protocol and procedures.
• Manage field-based outreach schedule, active caseload, and administrative duties.
• Can meet deadlines, establish priorities and work sequences.
• Proven ability to communicate professionally and effectively with veterans, providers, and the public.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and recognize when to escalate concerns.
• Must be comfortable talking about suicide and working with potentially suicidal veterans within a non-clinical peer support role.
• Solid knowledge of military culture and its implications in service delivery.
• Ability to adhere to HIPAA regulations, confidentiality standards, and protection of PII.
• Comfortable participating in approved outreach and public awareness activities.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Must be able to work independently and in accordance with EOVS office work, field work and telework policies.
• Reliable transportation.

• Enhanced knowledge of veteran issues and services available in Massachusetts and understanding of the policies of Massachusetts' veterans' programs.
• Knowledge of Federal programs relating to veterans'.